Eviction Watch
Sambok Chap, Phnom Penh
In June 2006 the Municipality of Phnom Penh in conjunction with the Sour Srun Enterprise company authorized the hurried relocation of more than 1,000 families from their city center homes ('Sambok Chap'). Approximately one thousand police and military police forces gathered in Sambok Chap village heavily armed with rifles, electric batons, tear gas and riot gear. They threatened human rights monitors and local and international journalists, and then confiscated their cameras and prevented them from recording police actions.
One thousand families were forced into vans by the authorities. Their belongings, which had been dismantled by paid workers, were also brought to the new location situated in Andoung village, 22 kilometers from the city center. The municipality had one month to plan the relocation but failed to prepare the land in advance for the people. The site fails to meet minimum standards for human habitability. It lacks adequate sewage, sanitation facilities, drainage and access to water, and is far away from employment opportunities. Living conditions at Andoung remain dire and hundreds of evicted families still have not been provided with land plots.
Andoung Relocation Site Photo Gallery
Back to Stop Eviction page |
Previous 